Guest Post by Amy Moore. Amy is the National Sales Director for Mommy Bag Marketing. Learn more HERE.
We are in full holiday swing at my house. My daughter is four this year, and she has buckets of Christmas spirit. She couldn’t wait for us to put our tree up, and she had a blast decorating it. Isn’t it great to be able to see Christmas from the eyes of a child?
I was telling this to a friend of mine when she sighed. She dreads the holidays. All the hustle from store to store to buy presents, all the wrapping, cooking and cleaning… it is all very stressful. Not to mention trying to fit in all the Christmas parties and family functions.
It leaves this poor woman exhausted!
This whole conversation happened while she was wearing a shirt that said “(Christ)mas” indicating we should keep the Christ in Christmas.
Honestly, where is Christ in your Christmas?
If we are truly celebrating Christ’s birth, we have to go back and look at the Magi (or the Three Wise Men as they are most often called today). They were the ones that inspired the consumerism of the holiday season. These men traveled from the east, journeying for what scholars think was anywhere from forty-one days to two years.
Why make this effort?
To bring grand gifts to their tiny Saviour – gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They gave their best to Him.
Their BEST.
What do we give our Saviour during this time? I think most of us would sadly admit it isn’t our best. It is not our gold. It’s more like we are bringing Christ a cold Tator-Tot Casserole. We’re giving Him our leftovers!
“Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” – Romans 12:1-2 (CEV)
That scripture doesn’t have a disclaimer. I looked. 🙂
There isn’t an asterisk or redeeming footnote that gives you a pass during the months of November and December. It says we’re supposed to be “pure and pleasing”, not “stressed and exhausted”. To be a living sacrifice unlike others in this world, serving Him. Giving Him our best.
Our BEST! How do we give our best to Him?
- Give Him our time. Do you cross out church obligations on your calendar to make more time for your Christmas activities? Do you actively seek out ways to serve Him during these months, or are you just “too busy”?
- Give Him our mind. Spend time with him daily, through study and prayer. If you aren’t doing this regularly, now is a great time to begin!
- Give Him our money. How many families cut back their contributions to the Christian causes they support to make more room in the budget for presents? Far too many of us, I’m afraid.
- Give Him our children. I really think my children are my best gift I can bring to the Lord. Am I really bringing them in to worship Him, or are they distracted by the want and greed so prevalent in this season? Jesus received three gifts from the Wise Men. How many will your children get this year? Take the time to look at your children and look at their spiritual gifts. Help them use these gifts to be unlike others in this world, and to truely serve Him!
Have a merry Christmas and spend wonderful moments with your family and friends. But don’t let holiday tasks overwhelm you to a point that you only have leftovers for the Lord.
He truly deserves our best.
